Red Cedar
More apocalypse, less angst
Life List
(my list of things i live for)
- The incredible warmth that spreads through me when my partner puts his arm across my shoulders.
- The snow-capped North Shore mountains as seen through my bedroom window.
- Making things. All the things.
- A wedding planned on a special corner of the west coast.
- Coffee brought in bed first thing in the morning, every morning.
- Eagle feathers as gifts.
- Swimming naked in a crystal alpine lake after two days of hiking.
- “The Red Cedar” by Emily Carr.
- A shooting star so bright as to be seen in daylight.
- The sound of hard rain hitting the skylights when snuggled in our warm bed.
- High cloud passing over a bright moon on a windy night.
- Flowers rescued from a dumpster.
- Roasted beets.
- Being nuzzled good morning while still half asleep.
- The sunrise spilling from the valley to the east of my window.
- Flores Island. Magical and to be revisited often.
- The peek and struggle of crocuses and daffodils up from a long winter.
- Letters from friends who have come through the struggle the better for it.
- Finishing large and long projects.
- Meeting a fellow traveler unexpectedly.
- Strong, dark coffee.
- The romantic melancholy of old friends.
- A cold beer and a good political argument at the WISE.
- The Brandenburg concertos (particularly 1 and 3).
- Building a cozy cabin being in the woods, at the end of a dirt road – just for us!
- Standing up for the good with a crowd of creative, vibrant people.
- Winning someone’s job back after they have been laid off.
- The scent of cedar trees.
- Playing my fiddle until my fingers hurt.
- Singing and making music with my lover.
- Acceptance of all kinds.
- Knowing the people out there who love me think of me from time to time.
- A garden full of potential food and flower just waiting to burst.
- Wild strawberries.
- Seeing bears in wild spaces.
- Fiction so compelling it seeps into everyday life.
- Good accordion playing.
- Eclectic friends and eccentric co-workers.
- The songs my partner writes for me.
- Going on strike (what you lose in pay, you gain in dignity).
- An incredible, merged library that takes up many walls in our home and studio.
- Collectively creating.
- Well-planned dinners, cocktail parties, and gatherings.
- Long trails that end on sandy beaches.
- Being humbled by those who know so much more than me.
- Learning new things about marine life and the sea.
- A decent red wine and a long conversation.
- My women friends who inspire and support.
- Meeting a new mentor.
- Smoked salmon and avacado on kavli crackers.
- Arvo Part.
- Forest paths soft under the feet with needles and scent.
- Fresh lavender in my pockets.
- Art surprises in public spaces.
- The Sun Yat Sen gardens in the downtown eastside – feng shui at work.
- Midnight swimming in the black, black sea under an inky-dark sky punctuated by small star-points above and phosphorous below.
- Communal cooking parties with vodka and singing.
- Kissing.
- Four wheel drive and a backroad mapbook.
- Writers who remind me to keep seeking.
- Healing hotspring soaks surrounded by December snow.
- Sleeping outside in the cool of early fall.
- Solid and fabulous footwear for city or forest.
- Daily workouts at the gym to remind my body what it’s supposed to be doing.
- Home-canned peaches.
- Making house home, making spaces safe.
- Small words of encouragement from people I respect.
- Knowing where I’ve been is not where I am.
- Having communities and avenues of expression.
- Knowing where my centre is.
- Digging deep in the dirt with my hands to make gardens.
- Sharing gratitude with those who most need to hear it.
- Daily meditation to bring me back in touch.
- Walking around East Vancouver and thinking about society.
- Curries with lots of chutney.
- A cohort of academic friends and allies developed through my MA.
- The purple clematis that climbs my back porch, the rose of sharon on the fence.
- Clean sheets.
- Allowing the music to lead me.
- Ripe cherries and strong coffee for lunch.
- Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor.
- Zen ritual and service.
- The poems of Carl Sandburg.
- A house without a landlord from which I can build my future.
- Reading books aloud to my partner each night before bed.
- Road trips to parts unknown, the destination being friends to visit.
- The always-possibility something new really is just around the corner.
- Cheap sushi.
- Fantastic, loving, and often (very) naughty sex.
- Living in a city wrapped by trails and paths to everywhere.
- A bathtub big enough for two with a view of the mountains.
- The promise of always and forever.
- Self-love and an active imagination.
- Telling stories of daring and bravado – the best part of any adventure being the legends created.
- The confidences of good people.
- Days with which I can make art and music.
- A good writing critique delivered by those I trust.
- Cut flower bouquets from my own garden.
- Fresh fruit and ice cream.
- Getting the words just right.
Updated June 2015.
Red Cedar 
So many cool things on here I don’t know where to begin. Can i cut and past half of this to my bucket list. LOL . I might swap the Back out with some a bit of Mahler though.